Eleanor Finch
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States that was established in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party. As of 2024, the party had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the country, and it ranked fifth among national parties in terms of registered members. The Constitution Party's platform includes support for limited government and individual freedoms, and strict immigration policies. It also opposes pornography and adoption by same-sex couples. While it is not one of the two dominant parties in the US political system, the Constitution Party has gained some traction in certain regions and among voters who are dissatisfied with the Democratic and Republican parties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding | Established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992 |
| Officially recognized by the Federal Election Commission in 1996 | |
| Renamed the Constitution Party in 1999 | |
| Electoral Performance | Placed sixth in the 2008 presidential election with 199,880 votes |
| As of June 2024, 28 members have been elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the U.S. | |
| Ranked fifth among national parties in the U.S. in terms of registered members | |
| Political Positions | Supports the right for local and state governments to "proscribe offensive sexual behavior" |
| Rejects "the notion that homosexuals, transgenders [sic] or those who are sexually deviant are deserving of legal favor or special protection" | |
| Opposes adoption by homosexual singles or couples | |
| Opposes pornography, believing it to be destructive to society | |
| Believes in individual responsibility of citizens and corporations while maintaining that the government plays a vital role in upholding community standards | |
| Favors a moratorium on future immigration, with exceptions only for extreme cases of necessity | |
| Opposes welfare subsidies and other benefits for undocumented immigrants | |
| Rejects the practice of granting U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrant parents | |
| Supports the use of the U.S. military to enforce its strict immigration policy |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution Party is the fifth-largest party in the US
The Constitution Party supports the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. It aims to limit the federal government to its delegated, enumerated, and constitutional functions. The party has a conservative platform, supporting the right of local and state governments to "proscribe offensive sexual behaviour" and opposing the extension of legal rights or special protection to individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It also rejects the notion of same-sex couples adopting children. Additionally, the party opposes pornography, believing it to be a destructive element in society.
The Constitution Party has a strict stance on immigration, advocating for a moratorium on future immigration with limited exceptions until federal welfare programs are phased out and stricter vetting procedures are implemented. They also oppose welfare subsidies and other benefits for undocumented immigrants. In terms of military policy, the party has expressed support for utilising the US military to enforce its proposed strict immigration policy.
The Constitution Party has participated in several presidential elections, including in 2008 when Chuck Baldwin, the party's presidential nominee, and Darrell Castle, the vice-presidential nominee, placed sixth with 199,880 votes. The party has also seen success in local elections, with a presence in several state and municipal governments.
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The party is anti-immigration
The Constitution Party, originally called the US Taxpayers Party, was founded in 1992 as a conservative alternative to the Republican Party. It is considered a far-right political party. The Constitution Party holds that each state's membership in the Union is voluntary, a stance known as the compact theory. As of June 2024, the party had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States.
The Constitution Party is anti-immigration. It wants to only allow legal immigrants through tightly controlled borders. The party supports a moratorium on immigration to the United States, except in extreme hardship cases or other individual special circumstances, until all federal assistance is discontinued and proper security procedures are instituted against terrorist infiltration. They also oppose bilingual ballots and demand that those who wish to participate in the electoral process and governance of the nation be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. They support English as the official language for all government business.
The Constitution Party also opposes the abuse of the H-1B and L-1 visa provisions of the immigration act, which they believe displaces American workers with foreigners. They insist that every individual group and/or private agency that requests the admission of an immigrant to the US be required to commit legally to providing housing and sustenance for such immigrants, bearing full responsibility for their economic independence.
The party also rejects the practice of granting US citizenship to children born to illegal immigrant parents while in the country (jus soli) and rejects any extension of amnesty to undocumented immigrants. They call for the use of the US military to enforce their strict immigration policy. They believe that amnesty only encourages illegal immigration.
The Constitution Party's 2012 platform called for stricter controls on legal immigration. It demanded that the federal government implement an immigration policy disqualifying potential immigrants on grounds of ill health, criminality, low morals, or financial dependence, claiming that they would impose an improper burden on the United States. The party also opposes welfare subsidies and other benefits to undocumented immigrants.
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The party is anti-LGBTQ+ rights
The Constitution Party of the United States is a political party that has been described as a "patriot group" that advocates for extreme anti-government doctrines. The party's platform is heavily influenced by Christian reconstructionism, which calls for the remaking of government and society according to Old Testament Biblical law.
Regarding LGBTQ+ rights, the Constitution Party holds anti-LGBTQ+ stances and believes that local and state governments have the right to "proscribe offensive sexual behavior." They reject the idea that homosexual, transgender, or sexually deviant individuals deserve legal favour or special protection. The party strongly opposes same-sex adoption, believing that only heterosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children. They also take a conservative approach to pornography, considering it destructive to society and distinguishing it from the First Amendment right to free speech.
The Constitution Party's stance on LGBTQ+ rights aligns with other conservative views on social issues. For example, the party opposes all government involvement in gambling and believes that charitable giving is most effective when conducted by private parties, not the government. They also support English as the official language for governmental business and oppose bilingual ballots.
The Constitution Party has a presence across the United States, with 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices as of June 2024. However, it is not as influential as the two dominant parties, the Democratic and Republican Parties, and is considered a "third party."
While the party has a relatively small number of elected officials, its impact on the political landscape should not be understated. In some instances, the Democratic Party has helped Constitution Party candidates, such as by providing assistance with ballot access and campaign promotion efforts. This impact on the electoral process demonstrates the complex and multifaceted nature of American politics, where various parties and ideologies compete for influence.
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The Constitution Party is anti-pornography
The Constitution Party is an ultra-conservative political party in the United States that promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution. The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush violated his pledge of "no new taxes". The Constitution Party is anti-pornography and believes that it is a "destructive element of society resulting in significant and real emotional, physical, spiritual and financial costs to individuals, families and communities". They distinguish pornography from the First Amendment right to free speech and believe that the government should play a "vital role" in establishing and maintaining the highest level of decency in America's community standards.
The party's stance on pornography is informed by its religious and moral values. As an ultra-conservative party, the Constitution Party adheres to traditional social norms and beliefs, including those related to sexuality and gender roles. They believe that pornography undermines these traditional values and has a negative impact on society, particularly on young people. The party also opposes what it considers to be "offensive sexual behavior" and rejects the idea that LGBTQ+ individuals deserve legal protection or special treatment.
In line with their anti-pornography stance, the Constitution Party has expressed support for legislation aimed at regulating online pornographic content. They have supported bills that require age verification on websites with pornographic content, citing the need to protect minors from accessing inappropriate material. However, these efforts have been controversial and have faced legal challenges, with critics arguing that they violate constitutional free speech protections.
The Constitution Party's anti-pornography stance is part of a broader set of social and cultural policies that reflect their conservative ideology. For example, the party opposes abortion and has nominated anti-abortion activists as candidates in elections. They also oppose same-sex adoption and believe that the government should not be involved in charitable activities, as it is not explicitly granted to them in the Constitution.
The Constitution Party's anti-pornography stance has gained some traction in certain regions of the United States. As of June 2024, the party had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the country. While the party's influence varies by state and local community, it is particularly prominent in states with a strong religious conservative presence, such as Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.
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The party has 28 members elected to municipal offices
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States that was established as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party in 1992. The party was formed in response to a perceived shift away from limited and empowered local governments and broad individual freedoms. It supports the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and aims to restrict the federal government to its delegated and enumerated constitutional functions.
As of June 2024, the Constitution Party has 28 members elected to municipal offices and city council seats across the United States. This makes it the fifth-largest party in terms of registered members. The party's platform includes a strong opposition to pornography, believing it is a destructive element in society, and it rejects any legal favouritism or special protection for the LGBTQ+ community. They also oppose adoption by same-sex couples.
The Constitution Party has a strict stance on immigration, calling for a moratorium on future immigration with only a few exceptions. They reject the idea of granting U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants and oppose any form of amnesty or welfare benefits for undocumented immigrants. They even advocate for the use of the military to enforce their hardline immigration policies.
The party has participated in presidential elections, with Michael Peroutka seeking the Constitution Party's presidential nomination in 2003. In the 2008 election, Chuck Baldwin won the party's nomination, with Darrell Castle as his vice-presidential running mate. They placed sixth, receiving 199,880 votes.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution Party is a political party in the United States that supports the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. It aims to limit the federal government to its delegated and enumerated constitutional functions.
The Constitution Party believes in limiting the power of the federal government and promoting individual freedoms. They oppose welfare subsidies and other benefits for undocumented immigrants, and reject the idea that homosexual and transgender individuals should receive legal favor or special protection. They also oppose pornography, believing that it is destructive to society.
The United States operates within a two-party system, with the Democratic and Republican Parties as the most influential players. The Constitution Party is considered a "third party," along with other smaller parties like the Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, Natural Law, and Green Parties.
The Constitution Party supports strict immigration policies and calls for the use of the military to enforce them. They advocate for a moratorium on future immigration, with exceptions only for extreme cases of necessity, and reject the idea of birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
As of September 2019, the Constitution Party was a ballot-qualified party in 14 states. As of June 2024, the party had 28 members elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States. However, specific information about the regions or states where the party has a strong presence is not readily available.
